The visiting French foreign minister told President Lee Myung-bak, Friday, that Paris would do its best to address Korea’s wish to repatriate royal texts from the Joseon Kingdom looted by French expeditionary forces from Gangwha Island off Incheon in the late 19th century.
``The Korean people are very interested in the issue of the return of the `Oegyujanggak’ (Royal Library) books. I hope the French government will actively cooperate to resolve the issue,’’ presidential spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye quoted Lee as saying.
``In response, Bernard Kouchner, minister of foreign and European affairs, pledged to cooperate on the issue ‘in every possible way,’’’ Kim told reporters during a press briefing.
However, the French minister canceled a press conference after meeting his Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan, triggering a schism between the two sides on the issue. The French embassy in Seoul explained that the minister was too tired to talk to reporters.
Earlier this month, Seoul made a request to France for the return of the remaining 296 texts from the Joseon Kingdom’s Oegyujanggak in the form of a permanent loan.
A total of 297 books that explain the protocols of royal ceremonies and rites of the kingdom (1392-1910) were taken by the French military from the library on Ganghwa Island off the country’s west coast during a raid in 1866.
One of the books was returned in 1993 by the late French President Francois Mitterand during his visit to Seoul, aimed at promoting the sale of its high-speed trains. France won a contract worth billions of dollars, but no more books have been returned since.
The tomes have remained in the possession of the National Library of France in Paris, which is vehemently opposed to returning them.
Last year, a French court rejected a lawsuit filed by a Koran civic group, seeking the permanent return of the royal texts.
Later in the day, the French diplomat held a meeting with Foreign Minister Yu. According to ministry officials, Yu pressed for the return of the books once again, while his French counterpart was quoted as saying, ``France knows the Korean people’s concern and hopes to cooperate with Korea to address the issue to the satisfaction of both sides.’’
Meanwhile, both sides conferred on a range of issues of mutual concern, including cooperation for this year’s G-20 Summit to be held in Seoul in November, the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement and security conditions on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry said in a statement.
France is to chair this year’s G-8 Summit.
The ministers agreed to exert mutual efforts to reach a compromise on the return of Korean royal books, the statement said.
Kouchner is the first French foreign minister to visit South Korea since 2003. His trip comes as Korea is seeking ways to expand its comprehensive and strategic partnership with France in the fields of politics, the economy, culture and others.
Kouchner will return to France today, wrapping up a two-day stay in Seoul.
Topic: France Vows to Do 'Best' Over Looted Books' Return (Read 1254 times)